Just like in comedy, irony plays a prevalent role in literature; in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, irony is not only used several times to poke fun at character and the narrator, but also gives them more life and a greater depth. In its multiple uses it is especially noticeable in The Prologue, The Pardoner's Tale, and The Wife of Bath. In the stories irony helped to show the reader the relevance of the story, but also the importance of its message.
In the prologue of The Canterbury Tales, irony was used multiple times to introduce the characters. For example, the monk who lives his life more lavishly than he should, normally would be thought to be a prudent and virtuous man. The monk is described as being large and boisterous, he loves to hunt and moreover he loves to eat.
…show more content…
For the Knight's punishment he is told by the queen to go and figure out what women want most, in the time of one year. Unfortunately the knight never gets a similar answer from a single woman. However the knight was running out of time, and while he was on his way back he came across an ugly old woman who asks if she could help him. Having no other option the knight accepts her help and she guarantees that his life will be saved if he pledges his life to her. The woman answers the question for the knight ,which was control over her husband, saving him and in return asks the knight to marry her. Since the knight pledged his life he has to marry her, but is miserable because he has to marry an ugly old woman. The woman later asks the knight why he is miserable, and upon hearing his response she asks him which he would rather have and ugly old wife who is faithful or a beautiful wife who cheats. The knight then tells her to decide, trusting her judgement, and upon having what women desire most she turns into a beautiful